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Rand Paul: Obama ‘histrionics’ over cuts

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is charging that President Barack Obama is full of “histrionics” about what will happen if the sequester kicks in.

“I think the sequester happens and it will be in some ways a yawn because the histrionics that are coming from the president saying, ‘Oh, we’re going to shut down and get rid of meat inspectors’ — I mean, is anybody not going to stand up and call his bluff on that ridiculousness?” Paul said on CNN on Tuesday night.

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Obama has warned that the sequester — in which $1.2 trillion automatic cuts to government spending begin March 1 — could have wide-ranging, devastating effects to the nation, leading to furloughs for some government employees that could mean, among other effects, fewer meat inspections.

Paul’s take? The sequester doesn’t go far enough.

“I mean, for goodness sakes, it was his proposal. He proposed the sequester, it was his idea. He signed it into law, now he’s going to tell us that, ‘Oh, it’s all our fault?’” Paul said. “I voted against the sequester because I didn’t think it was enough.”

He added: “It’s a pittance. I mean, it’s a slowdown in the rate of growth. There are no real cuts happening over 10 years.”